Enhancing the access and use of forest resources data in Minnesota.

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Federal

Three primary agencies are involved in natural resource management at the federal level in Minnesota: the USDA Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Defense also manage some land in the State.

  USDA FOREST SERVICE

The Forest Service formulates a National Direction that includes an assessment and a program document. The most recent draft of the program was prepared in 1995, but has not yet been finalized. At the regional level, the Forest Service develops the Lake States Area Guide to provide strategic guidance for the forest level plans.

CHIPPEWA AND SUPERIOR NATIONAL FORESTS
Plans for both Chippewa and Superior National Forests were completed in 1986 and have guided resource management since then. Amendments have been made to both plans and are outlined at the beginning of current copies. The plans are now being revised. The Forest Service issued a Notice of Intent for the revisions in August of 1997. The Forest Service is using a joint revision process, but will prepare a separate Revised Plan for each of the forests. They expect to complete the plans by the year 2000. 

• Land and Resource Management Plan, 1986, Chippewa National Forest.

• Land and Resource Management Plan, 1986, Superior National Forest.

BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS
Superior National Forest Management Areas 5.1-5.3 comprise the BWCAW. The section of the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan pertaining to these areas was revised in 1993 and developed into a separate plan for the BWCAW. This section of the forest plan will not be revised as part of the current revision process, but the land and resources of the Boundary Waters area will be considered in the overall revisions.

 

• BWCA Wilderness Management Plan and Implementation Schedule, 1993.

• Final Environmental Impact Statement for the BWCA Wilderness Management and Implementation Schedule, 1993.

• Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan: Amendment No. 3, 1993.

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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

VOYAGUERS NATIONAL PARK

• Master Plan, 1980. This plan will be revised in the next 3 years.

• Natural Resources Management Plan and Environmental Assessment, 1992. The Plan was reviewed in 1994. It is due to be revised, but the revision had not begun as of summer 1997.

GRAND PORTAGE NATIONAL MONUMENT
The monument has a master plan from 1973 and several plans for various components of management (e.g., housing, fire, road bypass).

• Statement for Management, 1992. The statement presents an inventory and analysis of influences on the monument and summarizes major issues and management objectives.

• Resource Management Plan and Environmental Assessment, 1995.

MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL RIVER AND RECREATION AREA

• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Comprehensive Management Plan, 1995.

ST. CROIX AND LOWER ST. CROIX NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS
The master plans for both riverways are currently under revision.

• Final Master Plan: St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, 1976.

• Master Plan: Lower St. Croix National ScenicRiverway, 1974. This plan  was prepared by the NPS, the Minnesota DNR, the Wisconsin DNR, and the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission. The revision process is again  a cooperative effort. 

• Resource Management Plan: St. Croix and Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, 1995. 

  U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

The USFWS has developed an ecosystem plan for the area including the majority of Minnesota and portions of Wisconsin and Iowa. The USFWS is a partner in implementing the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and other interagency wildlife conservation efforts. The Ecological Services Field 
Office develops recovery plans for endangered and threatened species in Minnesota.

• Mississippi Headwaters/Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem Action Plan, 1997. The plan outlines goals and objectives for protecting and restoring resources and ecological integrity within the Ecosystem. The plan is intended to assist USFWS stations and also to be used in working with other partners and stakeholders to help in communicating USFWS priorities, identifying areas of common interest, and developing cooperative working relationships. 

• Waterfowl for the Future: North American Waterfowl Management Plan, 1987. Developed by the USFWS and the Canadian Wildlife Service.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES 
USFWS intends to develop comprehensive management plans for all refuges by the by the year 2005. The comprehensive plans will guide management decisions over the next 15 years and set forth strategies for achieving refuge goals and objectives. The refuges currently use multiple plans, which are components of a general management plan, to guide various aspects of resource management and other refuge responsibilities.

AGASSIZ
The Refuge has a general management plan and several other plans for specific resources. They have no forestry plan; some logging is done, but not on any set rotation.

BIG STONE
Primarily wetlands and grasslands management.

CRANE MEADOWS
Crane Meadows is managed through the Sherburne Refuge.

• Final Environmental Assessment, Conceptual Management Plan, Land Protection Plan, 1992.

HAMDEN SLOUGH
Primarily grassland management.

MINNESOTA VALLEY
The Refuge developed a landscape plan 4-5 years ago. They also develop management plans annually for specific resources/activities. They are scheduled to begin developing a comprehensive plan in spring of 1998.

• MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Recreation Area and State Trail: Comprehensive Plan, 1984.

RICE LAKE
The timber management plan is being updated to incorporate the Phase II inventory currently being conducted. The general management plan includes a forest management chapter that was developed in 1984. 

• Landscape Plan: Rice Lake N. W. R., 1997.

• Landscape Plan for the Sandstone Unit, Rice Lake N. W. R., 1995.

SHERBURNE
The general management plan is outdated and not closely followed. The Plan does include a Woodland Management Plan that was developed in 1987. Refuge staff are in the process of developing a landscape plan. 

TAMARAC
The Refuge Management Plan includes component plans for wetlands, grasslands, forests and other specific resources/issues.
 

• Refuge Management Plan, Part III, Chapter 2: Forest Management Plan, 1994.

UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
The general management plan was completed in 1987. The Refuge also has plans for cropland, recreation programs, and law enforcement, which primarily address service policy.

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge: Environmental Impact Statement and Refuge Master Plan, 1987.

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BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

The Bureau of Land Management has a general plan for Minnesota; however, the plan was prepared in the early 1980s and is now out-of-date. The plan outlines directions for BLM lands (most of which have now been transferred to the State) and also for mineral issues on other federal lands. The plan may be revised in conjunction with the USDA Forest Service, but there is no movement toward revision at this time. The Lake Vermilion Islands comprise 87 parcels of BLM administered land. BLM does not have plans for the other parcels it administers in Minnesota. Most of the parcels will likely be transferred to private claimants or the Grand Portage Band of Indians, or involved in Forest Service exchanges.

• Lake Vermillion Public Islands Coordinated Resource Management Plan, 1993.

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

TCAAP

• Natural Resources Management Plan for the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, 1995

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Send comments to: iic@gis.umn.edu
Last updated: 05/22/2006